1. EN270: Transnational Feminism, 2011/12 Sorcha Gunne
Office: H540
Office Hour: Tuesday, 11am

2. You
seminar
topic

3. Questions we will cover today:
How do I structure an essay?
What is the writing process?
How do I choose a question?
What is a thesis statement?
What is research?
Is an essay ever finished?

6. The process of writing an essay:
Selecting your question
Research 1 (Primary text)
Writing
Research 2 (Secondary material)
Editing

7. Selecting your question:
What question interests you most?
How will you approach the question?
Does this question challenge you?
Read
all the questions
Thesis Statement

8. Draft a close reading of the text based on your essay plan
Research 1: The Primary Text
Outline an essay plan based on your analysis
Re-read the primary text(s)
Select the passages you will focus on
Analyse these passages
Draft a close reading of the text based on your essay plan

9. Secondary material: Stop and think
What are examples of the various kinds of
secondary material you can use in an essay?
Why is secondary material important?
What is the difference between theory and
secondary criticism?
Why is it important to have your thesis
statement and rough draft done before you
start secondary research?

10. Work relevant material into the draft of your essay
Research 2: Secondary Material
Look at module reading lists
& do library catalogue searches
Briefly look at material you think will be relevant
Work through your list and make notes
Make a list of useful material
Work relevant material into the draft of your essay

11. Editing: Have you answered the question?
Read what you have written - edit as you go.
Does your essay answer your thesis statement?
Does the organisation of your essay make sense?
Have you answered the question?
Then set your essay aside for a break before you proof read it.
Rewrite
your introduction
Read what you have written... again

12. More help from the Royal Literary Fund website: